Either to difinthrone the king of Heav'n'
We war, if war be beft, or to regain
Our own right loft. Him to unthrone we then
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield
To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the ftrife:
The former vain to hope argues as vain
The latter: for what place can be for us 235
Within Heav'n's bound, unless Heav'n's Lord ··
fupreme
We overpower? fuppofe he should relent 27
And publish grace to all, on promise made
Of new subjection: with what eyes could we
Stand in his presence bumble, and receive 240
Strict laws impos'd, te celebrate his throne
With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead fing
Forc'd hallelujahs; while he lordly fits
Our envy'd Sov'reign, and his altar breathes
Ambrofial odors, and ambrofial flowers, 245
Our fervile offerings? This must be our task
In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearifome
Eternity to spent in worship paid
To whom we hate! let us not then pursue
By force impoffible, by leave obtain❜d 250
Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek
Our own good from ourselves, and from our
Live to ourselves, though in this vaft recess,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring 255
Hard liberty before the easy yoke
Of fervile pomp, Our greatness will appear Then moft confpicuous, when great things of fmall,
Useful of hurtful, profperous of adverse
We can create, and in what place fo e'er 260
Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain,
Through labor and indurance. This deep world
Of darkness do we dread? how oft amidst
Thick clouds and, dark doth Heav'n's all-ruling
Choose to refide, his glory unobfcur'd
And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Muft'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles
As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Imitate when we please? this defert foil
Wants not her hidden luftre, genis and gold:,
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can Heav'n fhew
more?
Our torments alfo may in length of time
Become our elements; these piercing fires 275
As foft as now fevere, our temper chang'd
Into their temper: which must needs remove
The fenfible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counfels, and the fertled state
Of order, how in fafety beft me may
Compose our prefent evils, with regard
Of what we are and where, difmiffing quite
All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advife.
He fearce had finifhd, when fuch murmur
Th' affembly, as when hollow rocks retain The found of bluftring wind's, which all night long
Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadense
Sea-fearing men o'erwatchd, whofe bark by chance
Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempeft: such applause was heard 290
As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleas'd
Advising peace; for fuch another field
They dreaded worse than Hell: fo much the fear
Of thunder, and the fword of Michaël
Wrought still within them; and no lefs defire 295
To found this nether Empire, which might rise
By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation oppofite to Heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom,
Satan except, none higher fat, with grave 300
Afpect he rofe, and in his rifing seem'd
A pillar of state; deep on his front engraven
Deliberation fat, and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin? fagé he stood, 305
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightieft monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention still as night
Or fummer's noon-tide air, while thus he fpake.
Thrones, and Imperial Pow'rs, Offspring of
Heav'n,
Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now
Muft we renounce, and changing style, be call'd Princes of Hell? for fo the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here A growing empire: doubtlefs; while we dream;
315 And know not that the king of Heav'n hath
This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt
From Heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league
Banded against his throne, but to remain 320
In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd
Under th'inevitable curb, referv'd
His captive multitude: For he, be fure,
In height or depth, still first and laft will reign
Sole King, and of his kingdom lofe no part 325
By our revolt; but over Hell extend
His empire, and with iron fcepter rule
Us here, as with his golden thofe in Heav'n
What fit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs 330.
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchfaf'd or fought: for what peace will be giv'n
To us enflav'd, but cuftody fevere,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return? 335
But, to our power, hoftility, and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though flow,
Yet ever plotting how the conqueror leaft
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice
In doing what we most in fuffering feel? 340
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whose high walls fear no alfault or fiege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find
Some easier enterprize? there is a place,
If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n
Err not, another world, the happy feat
of fome new race call'd Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though lefs
In pow'r and excellence, but favor'd more
Of him who rules above: fo was his will
Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an oath,
That fhook Heav'n's whole circumference,
confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mold, 355
Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their pow'r
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